New transport planning tool enables switch to home deliveries

A new home delivery operation has got off the ground in London, supported by latest transport planning software.

Classic Fresh Foods now delivers to around 200 addresses per day following the launch of its home delivery operation

Based in New Covent Garden Market, Classic Fresh Foods specialises in supplying fresh produce to hotels, restaurants and gastropubs across London. However, with most of its customers closing their premises during lockdown, the company switched to offering home delivery.

Take-up has soared since then; the business now delivers to around 200 addresses per day and Peter Banfalvi, general manager, says the new My Transport Planner pay-as-you-go tool has played a significant role in making the venture a success.

Although Banfalvi had previously tried a basic route planner, it was too limited to enable the firm’s work.

In contrast, the web-based My Transport Planner tool, which is aimed at companies of all sizes, uses sophisticated algorithms to plan transport and optimise routes, generating significant savings in time, costs and total fleet mileage.

Explaining the benefits, Banfalvi said: “Now I can give the orders for each van to the picking team, whereas before the drivers had to find each order in the warehouse. It took up to three hours to load each van, whereas it is now under an hour per van, so it is saving us a huge amount of time. The goods get loaded into the vans in the correct order, according to the manifest. I love it – it makes my life so much easier.

“If there remains a demand for home delivery after lockdown ends, then we will continue to offer it. And this system enables us to combine home and business delivery into one seamless operation.”

My Transport Planner is offering delivery companies a 30-day free trial of its software. For further information, visit www.mytransportplanner.com.

Natalie has worked as a fleet journalist for 16 years, previously as assistant editor on the former Company Car magazine before joining Fleet World in 2006. Prior to this, she worked on a range of B2B titles, including Insurance Age and Insurance Day. As Business Editor, Natalie ensures the group websites and newsletters are updated with the latest news.